﻿﻿The Restoration ​

ACP is excited to report that work is complete on our second feature film restoration in collaboration with the Albanian National Film Archive and the US Library of Congress Audiovisual Conservation Center. Tomka and His Friends brings us into the compelling story of a group of young boys working to defend their homeland from the occupying German army in the south-central town of Berat, Albania circa 1943. The Library of Congress Audiovisual Conservation Center team has worked to sharpen the image and sound, and create new film and digital preservation masters. Meanwhile, the ACP translation team, headed by Eri Çela and Jean- Philippe Voiron worked to create accurate subtitles in both English and French to preserve the special expressions of the children.

The first phase of the digital restoration toured the UK in 2014, and screened at the 2014 Tirana International Film Festival. The 35mm film to film restoration and the final digital restoration were completed in November 2015. TOMKA will have a limited tour in the US and France in 2015-16, and will soon be available on VOD in Canada and the U.S. via FilmStruck, beginning June 23, 2017.

Mark Cousins and Filmhouse Present The Cinema of Childhood

Read all about the Cinema of Childhood Series that toured the UK thanks to Filmhouse Cinema Edinburgh and ACP Board member Mark Cousins. Tomka and His Friends is a featured film in the series, screening from April through September 2014 throughout the UK. More screenings will follow in Kosovo, Albania, the United States, Italy, and France in 2015-2016. Please be sure to check our events page for more details on upcoming programs. This timeless story of children coming of age against the odds is a story for all ages and all cultures.